Vending device.



F. S. POLLITT.

VENDING DEVICE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPTQ15, 1913.

1,1 12,550. Patented 001;. 6, 1914.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

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M'r 5555 I (7% hgwra P. S. POLLITT.

VENDING DEVIGE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 15. 1913.

Patented 00t.6,1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFTCE.

FLOR S. POLLITT, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

VENDING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FLOR S. PQLLITT, a citizen of theUnited States, and a resident of Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vending Devices and I do declare the following to be 'a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, attention being called to the two sheets of drawings which accompany this application and form a part thereof.

This invention concerns vending devices in which the sale of the article to be disposed of is controlled by the payment of a coin.

The invention relates more particularly to a device where the article to be sold isoi' an elongated shape, such as lead pencils for instance.

The invention consists of the construction of such a device as hereinafter described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which,

Figure 1, shows a top View of the device. Fig. 2, is a top view of the open case and shows the operating mechanism contained in the lower part of the same. Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section of the device. Fig. 4, shows the front end of the device. Fig. 5, is a vertical cross-section of the same. Fig. 6, is a view similar to Fig. 2, but taken on a lower plane as to a part of the device, shows the operating parts in a difierentposition.

The articles to be handled by this device are lead pencils, and the construction is arranged accordingly, to suit such articles and articles of analogous character or shape. These articles are contained in a magazine A, of cylindrical form of which 10, is the side, 11 the front-end and 12 the rear-end. This magazine is supported in a preferably horizontal position upon a case B, and in a manner that substantially half of the magazine is Within this case, the other half being above the same. The magazine is held in position in any suitable manner, as for instance by shoulders 13 and 14, on its front and rear-sides respectively, which find support on portions of the case. There is also a shoulder 15 on the rear-end 12, and above shoulder 14 thereat. When in position, the front edge of a lock-controlled cover 16 reaches over and engages this shoulder 15, and thereby serves to hold the magazine in position on the case. Side 10, of this latter, or at least that portion of it which is above Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 15, 1913.

Patented Oct. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 789,761.

the case, is so arranged as to render it possible to ascertain the nature of the contents from the outside. In this present case this is accomplished by providing side 10 in form of a cylinder of glass, the ends of which are fitted to the recessed annular edges of ends 11 and 12 respectively. If glass is used it is preferable to interpose gaskets 17 of cushioning material where glass and metal come together in order to compensate for the unequal expansion of these materials and to obviate the possibility of cracking of the glass when exposed to changing temperatures.

The articles may be obtained through an' opening 18, in the front end 11, which opening is normally'held closed by a shutter 19. Manipulation of a push-rod 21, is necessary in order to obtain one of the articles, a pencil in this case, provided said push rod is operatively connected to mechanism to be presently described. This connection ma be brought about by the insertion of a coin in the coin-slot 22, whereby the manipulation of said push-rod is rendered operative. If this is done an ejector 28, is caused to strike through an opening 24, in the rear-end of the magazine and against one end of a pencil 25, the other end of which pencil is opposite opening 18, in the front end of the magazine, the two openings being alined to be opposite each other and the distance between the openings corresponding to the length of the pencil. Simultaneously with this action shutter 19, has moved aside from opening 18, and uncovered the' same, permitting the pencil to pass through the front-end where sufiicient of it protrudes to permit the purchaser to grasp and withdraw it. With the release of the push-rod, ejector 23 and shutter 19 return to their normal positions.

The success of the aforesaid manipulation presumes of course that a pencil is in proper position and in alinement with the alined openings 18 and For such purpose, I provide a support which is in form of a channeled ledge 26, which is carried on a shaft 27, by means of arms 28, which extend from said shaft. The shaft is journaled for rotation in the opposite ends of the magazine. Ledge 26 is so located on arms 28, that by means of rotation of shaft 27, it may be so positioned with reference to openings 18 and 24, that a pencil, if resting upon said ledge, is in that proper position between said openings, which is necessary to permit its ejectment as before described. In order to bring one of thepencils upon said ledge, there is a bar 29, also carried on arms 28, and in such a position thereon as to sweep closely over the inside of the side of the magazine when said arms are caused to swing around in this latter. This bar by reason of its function 1 call a scoop and in order to obtain the effect of its action, shaft 27, is rotated by means of a crank-handle 31, so as to cause said scoop to pass through the lower part of the magazine. The direction of this rotation is such that pencils are gathered on thatside of arms 28, on which ledge 26 iscarried. Rotation is continued until arms 28, with the pencils in front of them, have passed above a horizontal position and into'the upper portion of the magazine, in which position the pencils roll down toward the center and one of them is necessarily left upon the ledge. Observe Fig. 5. Rotation is stopped now as soon as the loaded ledge is in proper position and with the pencil thereon between openings'lS and 24. The device is now ready for manipulation by push-rod 21, whereby this particular pencil will be obtained provided a coin has been deposited.

in order to indicate the aforesaid proper position of the pencil, the handle lsprovided with a pointer 32, which coacts with a stationary mark which may be in form of a pin 33, the alinement of both indicating the arrival of the pencil in position for discharge. In order to hold this position until the ejection of the pencil is accomplished, there is a spring-actuated detent 34, which is carried in a recess provided for it in one end of the scoop and adapted to co-act with a socket 35 in the innerside of the end of the magazine opposite it. This socket is so located that the detent snaps into it when opposite the same and is engaged thereby when the pencil is in proper position for ejection as indicated by the pointer on the handle. While this engagement is sufficient for the purpose, it does not interfere with any subsequent manipulation of handle 31, and readily yields whenpositive action is applied.

It will be noticed that arms 28, form substantially a partition and by adding such arms the magazine may be divided longi tudinally into compartments which may be used to carry articles of different kinds, or in this case for instance, pencils of difierent grades. in the drawing 1 have shown three of such additional sets of arms radially spaced and each set provided with a scoop 29, and the indicating means (pins 33) and the holding means (sockets 35) are accordingly increased.

The mechanism whereby the push rod is operatively connected so that its manipulation effects actuation of ejector 23 and of shutter 19, is constructed as follows: At the iaiaaso inner end of the push-rod there is an upwardly open coin pocket 36, adapted to re 'ceive the coin passed in at slot 21, by means and provided at its lower part with a pin 41, so located as to extend into the path of the projecting part of the coin, when said coin is carried rearwardly in consequence of action on the push-rod. At its upper end said lever is connected to ejector 23, in a. suitable manner to actuate the same, said ejector having a sliding support in a guide-- way 42, properly located with reference to opening 24, mths rear-end of the magazine. Observe Figs. 3 and 5. This location is so as to permit alinement between said opening and the open end of said guide-way to enable the ejector to expel a pencil when moving forward. Opening 18, through which the pencil is discharged and withdrawn, must of course be cleared by that time by shutter 19, and therefore this latter is moved accordingly and by means likewise operating in consequence of the same manipulation of the push-rod and operatively connecting the two. These means consist of a link 43, connected to the lower end of lever 39, by means of a pin 44. 45 is a cam-plate which at its forward end extends through the case and supports shutter 19. 46 is a cam-slide complementary to the cam-plate and connected to link 43 for actuation thereby in a longitudinal direction. The effect of such actuation is readily understood and causes lateral movement of the cam-plate whereby shutter 19 is moved to uncover thedischarge openin in the magazine. Ubserve these positions 1n Fig. 6 and'in dotted lines in Fig.

4. A spring 47, compressed in consequence of manipulation of the push-rod carries ejector 23, shutter 19, and all connected parts back to their respective normal positions. Connection of the spring is' made in the manner shown, that is directly. to the pushrod asshown at 48. Connection to camslide 46, in order to obtain the action of the spring for returning it, is made by an arm 49 on the push-rod which engages a lug 51 on the cam-slide. An arm 50, adapted to engage pin 41, serves to obtain the return lever 39 and of ejector 23. The coin is released after it has performed its function, by dropping through an outlet 52, in the floor 38, of the case and over which it is carried after it has passed pin 41, at the end of the stroke of the push-rod.

To prevent irregularities in the manipulation of the apparatus, or improper use of it by holding out a coin on a partly completed stroke so as to prevent it from dropping through the outlet 52, and permitting withdrawal of more than one article, I provide a coil-latch 53, which upon the partly completed stroke drops in behind the coin and looks it in the position to which it has been advanced. This prevents also further manipulation of the push-rod except it is used to'complete the manipulation in the intended manner.

Access to the magazine for charging-and refilling may be provided in any manner, as for instance by suitable openings in the side or the ends. In the present case the rear-end is arranged to be detachable and may be removed after the magazine has been taken from the case. This removal is subject to the lock-controlled cover 16.

Means to operate, support and guide all movable parts may be provided in any suitable and approved manner.

The device may rest upon a suitable base 54, which forms also a receiver for coins passing through outlet 52.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. In a vending device, the combination of a cylindrical magazine provided with alined openings in its opposite ends, one of which openings constitutes a dischargeopening for the articles contained in the magazine, a shutter whereby this latter opening is normally held closed, a device adapted to support one of the articles mentioned, means to manipulate this device so as to cause one of these articles to lodge thereupon, means to adjust this device so as to aline the article thereon with the openings mentioned, an ejector in alinement with these openings, and mechanism for actuating the ejector and the shutter mentioned, to expel the supported article through the uncovered discharge-opening.

2. In a vending device, the combination of a cylindrical magazine, a. case whereby it is supported in a substantially horizontal position, alined openings in the ends thereof, an ejector supported opposite one of these openings, a shutter supported opposite the other opening which latter opening serves for a discharge-opening, a device to gather the articles within the magazine and to move them into the upper part of same, a ledge on this device adapted to retain one of these articles, said ledge being so positioned as to cause the article thereon to aline with the openings mentioned, and mechanism causing the shutter to uncover the dischargeopening and the ejector to move into the other opening for the purpose of discharging the article.

3. In a vending device, the combination of a magazine, a case whereby it is supported, alined openings in opposite ends of the magazine, one of which openings constitutes adischarge-opening, a shutter to normally close this latter opening, a device to move the articles contained in the magazine, one at a time, in alinement with the openings mentioned, means to manipulate this device for such purpose, indicating means to show when the article has arrived in said alined position, and means whichettect discharge of the article from this position and which move the shutter to uncover the discharge-opening.

4. In a vending device, thecombination of a magazine, a case whereby it is supported, alined openings in opposite ends of the magazine, one of which openings constitutes a discharge-opening, a shutter to normally close this latter opening, an adjustable support to move the articles contained in the magazine, one at the time, in alinement with the openings mentioned, means which operate to discharge the article from this support and to move the shutter to uncover the discharge-opening for this purpose, and means to temporarily hold said support in position with a yielding engagement until the article thereon is discharged therefrom.

5. In a vending device, the combination of a magazine, a case whereby it is supported, alined openings in opposite ends of the magazine, one of which openings'constitutes a discharge-opening, a shutter to normally close this latter opening, a device to move the articles contained in the magazine, one at a time, in alinement with the openings mentioned, an ejector to discharge the article from this position, mechanism adapted to operate the ejector and to move the.

shutter so as to uncover the discharge-opening, a push-rodadapted to be operatively connected to the mechanism to actuate the same and a spring to return the push-rod and all involved operating parts to normal positions.

6. In a vending device, the combination of a magazine, a case whereby it is supported, alined openings in opposite ends of the magazine, one of which openings constitutes a discharge-opening, a shutter to. normally close this latter opening, an ejector to discharge the articles contained in the magazine, one at the time, a lever to actuate the ejector, a pushrod adapted to actuate this lever, and mechanism operatively connected to said lever to actuate the shutter atfthe same time.

7. In a vending device, the combination of a magazine, a case whereby it is supported, alined openings in opposite ends of the magazine, one of which openings constitutes a discharge-opening, a shutter to normally close this latter opening, a cam-plate whereby this shutter is actuated to have a movement transversely with reference to said opening, an ejector to discharge the articles contained in the magazine one at the time, a lever to actuate this e3ector, a pueh-r0cl adapted to be operatively connected to this lever to'actuate the same, and a.

cam-slide adapted to be operated by said lever and in engagement with the cam-plate mentioned, to actuate this latter at the same time so as to move the shutter carried by said cam-plate. 1 G

In testimony whereof, I hereunto a my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

FLOR S. POLLITT. Witnesses:

C. SPENGEL, A. Jonmeon. 

